Also known as painful intercourse syndrome, vulvodynia is an often-oversimplified diagnosis for a very complicated and debilitating syndrome. Pudendal neuralgia is inflammation of the pudendal nerve. This condition causes burning or stabbing pain in the genitals, urethra or anus. The pain often gets worse over the course of a day and is exacerbated by sitting. Both conditions make sex incredibly painful.
Sex should not cause you persistent pain. It can get better. You’re not alone.

September 24, 2007

There Was No Vacation from the Pain

For Spring Break, I went to vacation with my partner and my parents. The sex I had on the first night ruined my entire vacation. The next day I felt horrible burning that made it very uncomfortable to walk. Over the next few days, it got so bad that I had to ask my parents to take me all around the island looking for something I could use for soaking. There were no bathtubs where we were staying. At the biggest supermarket on the island, I found a cat litter box that was the right size.

I felt so humiliated. When we got back to the hotel, I sat in the cat box on the floor in the bathroom and cried.